Dear Michael: Ahead’ of the curve

I am a gentleman in my mid-30s and have always had a passion for looking my best. Lately, I’ve been pondering hats. Which styles do you think are in vogue today?

Michael Serode

Dear Michael,

My boyfriend and I recently broke up and a new problem has come up. I bartend at a local bar, and the other night he came in with his friends. He and I were friendly, but he joked around with his friends a lot and was being very wise to me about our past relationship. I played it off like I didn’t care, but it made me very uncomfortable. I’m afraid of this becoming a regular occurrence. If it happens again, what should I do to make him understand that it upsets me without looking like a fool in front of him and his friends?

Sincerely,
Ex Problems
Dear Miss Ex,

Why wait for it happen again? Give him a little jingle; you do remember his number, don’t you? Tell him you didn’t appreciate it and you won’t appreciate in the future so please don’t come again. Let him know if this behavior continues, you’ll speak to the owner of your bar and ask that he be seated in another area of the restaurant. I always find it best to allow people to know how you feel, especially men, because they don’t have emotion and therefore don’t understand it. Another trick might be to mention, in front of his friends, how lousy of a lover he was. That would set him straight.

Love,
Your Diva Michael
Dear Michael,

I am a gentleman in my mid-30s and have always had a passion for looking my best. Lately, I’ve been pondering hats. Which styles do you think are in vogue today? And are there occasions where one hat is preferable to another? I would like to be the envy of the town, not the running joke.

Sincerely,
Chapeau Connoisseur
Dear Chapeau,

How fabulous! Hats! Is one hat more vogue than another? I shouldn’t think so. I think if the hat looks good on you, wear it proudly. There are rules of etiquette that say you must not wear your hat inside, or to maybe tip your hat when meeting a new lady. I’m sure there are others, but I don’t know them off the top of my head. You don’t even need to match your hat to your outfit, as you take it off when you take your topcoat off. Find some interesting hats and be ahead of the curve.

Love,
Your Diva Michael

Michael Serode is the owner/operator of Salon Serode in Pembroke, Mass., and your divine advice columnist. Send questions to salonserode@aol.com.